Atkins’ automated design tool fast tracks approvals of drainage designs

A transformational automated design tool developed by Atkins, a member of the SNC-Lavalin Group, is being used to radically reduce the time needed for technical approvals of drainage designs and help accelerate new homes to market.

The first of its kind in the UK, FastTrack Drainage was developed by Atkins in partnership with Scottish Water Horizons to automatically validate drainage designs against current regulations. The system utilises Dynamic Objects – an automated intelligent technology process created by Atkins – to significantly reduce the time required to review drainage designs.

Guy Ledger, Digital Director at Atkins, said: “The automation technology underpinning this solution is truly ground-breaking and transformational for the industry. Its application with Scottish Water Horizons demonstrates its potential to significantly save time and cost by speeding up technical approval of new sewer network assets.”

Presently, all new wastewater drainage systems are checked manually against various criteria to ensure compliance with regulations. This is often time-consuming resulting in long delays for developers and creating uncertainty around costs and project timescales. FastTrack Drainage automates the process, checking and validating each design automatically – allowing the overall approval process to be completed in days and weeks, instead of months – significantly reducing delivery times and costs.

Colin Lindsay, Operations Manager of Scottish Water Horizons, said: “Now more than ever, sites where new homes are being built must be approved, constructed and delivered on time, and on budget. One of the most fundamental components of any new housing development is the wastewater drainage system.

“With FastTrack Drainage, designs are validated within a matter of days, knocking weeks or months off existing validation processes. The quicker developers get designs validated and submitted for approval, the faster they can get on with their development, saving time and in turn, money.”

The innovation has been welcomed by developers who face mounting pressure to meet increasing demand for new housing, particularly in the affordable housing sector.

Guy Ledger continued: “What’s really exciting about this technology is its potential to be used in other areas of the planning and development process where technical review and approval of design information is needed against regulations.”

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About Atkins

Atkins (www.atkinsglobal.com) is one of the world’s most respected design, engineering and project management consultancies, employing over 18,300 people across the UK, North America, Middle East and Africa, Asia Pacific and Europe. We build long-term trusted partnerships to create a world where lives are enriched through the implementation of our ideas. You can view Atkins’ recent projects here.

About SNC-Lavalin

Founded in 1911, SNC-Lavalin is a fully integrated professional services and project management company with offices around the world. SNC-Lavalin connects people, technology and data to help shape and deliver world-leading concepts and projects, while offering comprehensive innovative solutions across the asset lifecycle. Our expertise is wide-ranging — consulting & advisory, intelligent networks & cyber security, design & engineering, procurement, project & construction management, operations & maintenance, decommissioning and sustaining capital—and delivered to clients in four strategic sectors: EDPM (engineering, design and project management), Infrastructure, Nuclear and Resources, supported by Capital. People. Drive. Results. www.snclavalin.com